I am contacting you on a matter of the utmost importance, the health
and well-being of animals at the University of Kansas Medical Center
48-R-0003.

I am aware of several recent inspections that your staff performed
regarding this facility. Clearly this laboratory has major problems as
illustrated by the citations relevant to primates 2A0; 99R1027, 0A0, and
3A0 describe incidents of severe negligence by University of Kansas
staff which resulted in extreme suffering for the animals involved in
experimentation at UK.

However, I believe that these other situations at this facility which
are also indicative of severe negligence. Two primates 1924 and 1941
(records attached) died of dehydration on Monday, 3/31/08. This took
place after the facility had had problems with water pressure over the
weekend. Both of these primates were found moribund (at the point of
death). While the lab did initiate therapy, these primates should not
have reached this point of severe dehydration. In fact, primate 1924
went into seizures later that day, even after receiving fluid therapy.
As you know, seizures are associated with severe cases of dehydration.
Clearly, these animals had not had access to water for a significant
period of time to reach a point of such severe dehydration. This is a
horrible way to die, and this facility deserves severe punishment.

Additionally, primate 1925 died on 3/29/08. This monkey was found on
2/29 to be moribund, hypothermic, non-responsive. This monkey also had a
seizure, which can be associated with severe dehydration. And this
monkey was found dead two days before 1924 and 1941. I have to wonder if
1925 succumbed to the same fate as 1924 and 1941. The death of this
animal should be investigated because it may also be related to
dehydration. I believe that these deaths represent violations of the
animal welfare act regarding failure to provide adequate water to
primates as well as instances of inadequate observation and care.

Primate 3A5 is listed as having “increased agitation and stress from
morphine withdrawal” on 8/4/2009. The afternoon observation of the same
date states “Patient is agitated and vocalizing more. Apears to be more
aggressive and keeps moving from perch to floor and back. . . . Patient
is screeching very loudly when moving and grimacing a lot. Muscle
tremors noted along with laying down in cage. . . . PM (8:00) – Severe
muscle tremors noted to the point that animal could not control his
right leg and started to bite it – no lacerations or punctures noted.”

On 8/5/2009 primate 3A5 is describes as ” . . . similar to last
night, severe muscle tremors when moving, a little ataxia with grimacing
and screeching. . . Noon – Patient is doing better, significant tremors
still noted, but screeching has decreased, appetite and fluid
consumption is good. Face is a little flushed as well as mildly swollen
on the right side. Afternoon/evening – Patient is very aggressive. . . .
Only about 20% of the Gatorade is gone from the am. Face is still
flushed with possible hives.” On 8/6/2009 “PM observation – Patient is
having increased muscle tremors of legs and arms, will try and bite at
feet if a large tremor occurs. No puncture wounds or lacerations noted
on feet or legs.”

On 8/21/2009 3A5 is listed as “patient with vomit in cage yesterday
afternoon and this am.” On 8/25/2009 the record states “Vomit all over
cage and floor in front of cage. Food left in cage. . . . Right testicle
is enlarged and left testicle is very small. Monkey is reserved today
and will get up on perch only when approached.” ON 8/26/2009 the record
states “his testicles are swollen, enlarged and scrotum has purplish
hue. His eyes are sunken, area around eyes are puffy and his pupils are
dialated. He appears to be in pain from swollen scrotum. He will only
move off of floor of cage with allot of stimulation. . . . PI is
consulting . . . about options.” On 8/27/2009 the record states “Monkey
is very subdued and curled up on perch – will only move when stimulated
a lot. Eyes are shrunken and dialated. Hair coat is spiked. Testicles
are swollen, hard, and scrotum has purplish hue. Monkey did eat his
biscuits, but it appeared that he vomited overnight.” 3A5 was apparently
killed that day because a necropsy was performed. The records do not
contain information on when the euthanasia was performed, what drug was
used, what dosage was given, etc. Also, this animal suffered for days,
and should have been euthanized sooner, not dissimilarly to animal 3A0
previously mentioned above.

Primate84Z is listed in records as being on treatment with
antibiotics from 7/29/09 – the morning of 8/4/2009 at which time the
antibiotics were discontinued due to potential complications when the
primate is put into morphine withdrawal, apparently as part of the
protocol. Why was the protocol not delayed until this animal had
completed antibiotic therapy? Why is an animal that is clearly suffering
from a bacterial infection then thrown into morphine withdrawal?

On 8/4/2009 primate 84Z is described as “Patient is screeching a lot,
grimacing noted as well. Patient is laying down in the bottom of the
cage and will only move when stimulated. Muscle tremors noted. Appetite
is decreased – no biscuits eaten, but has eaten fruit. . . . Evening obs
(8PM) – Patient is down in the bottom of the cage laying on his side.
Will move when stimulated, but very reluctant. Screeching is excessive
and grimacing noted when ever moving, mild muscle tremors noted.
Appetite is still decreased, has eaten some of the fruit provided, but
no biscuits. He has not touched the Gatorade.”

On 8/5/2009 his record states “Am observations – patient is very
reluctant to move on stimulation. Once he got up, he screeched once and
then fell back over. Moderate muscle tremors noted. Appetite is severely
decreased, a couple of biscuits eaten and some fruit. . . . PM
observation-Patient is sitting up on the floor, but reluctant to move,
even when squeeze was used. No screeching noted, but muscle tremors are
present and significant.

On 8/6/2009 his record states: Am Observation – Patient is sitting up
this am, but still reluctant to move. Face is very red, but screeching
was not noted this am. Appetite is still decreased with only a small
amount of fruit eaten, no biscuits. . . . . Noon – Patient is down in
cage and not responding to stimulation. Notify PI and continue
supportive care. Afternoon – PI gave one does of morphine to try and off
set withdrawal signs, no progress. Patient is down and only minimally
responsive. . . . . 10:00 PM – Patient is euthanized per PI protocol.

In contrast to the record of primate 3A5, 84Z did not receive any
rimadyl for pain relief. I also believe that this animal should have
been euthanized sooner. Regarding both monkey 84Z and 3A5 the facility
failed to euthanize these animals in a timely fashion and allowed them
to suffer unnecessarily. It is also clear that these animals suffered
unrelieved pain, and if they were not reported this way on the annual
report filed by the University of Kansas Medical Center 48-r-0003, then
this facility has violated requirements for reporting animals used in
potentially painful experiments without anesthesia (column E). In fact,
it appears that this lab may have violated these reporting requirements
because experiments have been underway at this facility for several
years which involve subjecting monkeys to withdrawal from addiction to
morphine. Clearly, some of these animals have experienced unrelieved
pain, However, this laboratory has not reported any monkeys in this
category during 2006, 2007, or 2008.

Also, several monkeys at this have experienced fatal gastric bloat.
These conditions have only been noticed when the animals are near death.
They have included monkey A62, 94B and 99R1463. The records which I have
obtained also discuss primate 21802. This monkey is also found moribund
his record states: “Patient down, but minimally responsive. Very cold to
touch. Evidence of hemorrhagic diarrhea round rectum. Pupils dilated and
sluggish. . . . Temp started at approx 75.5 degrees F. . . .
approximately 2 hours post treatment, patient had an episode of severe
hemorrhagic diarrhea and went into respiratory arrest. Attempts to
resuscitate failed.” Clearly this monkey had been allowed to decline to
an unacceptable level. The record states “history of mild diarrhea off
and on for several months. Patient was on Pedialyte during the diarrheal
events but no other treatment offered per PI protocol.” Clearly this
animal did not receive adequate treatment. Severe hemorrhagic diarrhea
should be treated with much more than Pedialyte.

It is clear that the incidents which have been documented in the
attached records which were obtained from the University of Kansas
Medical Center through the state public records act. These documents
clearly illustrate inadequate animal care which has allowed several
animals to dies of dehydration, inadequate veterinary care which allowed
several animals to suffer unnecessarily due to unreasonably delayed
euthanasia, and a high incidence of death by gastric bloat which can be
due to improper feeding of primates.

Also, it is clear that several of these primates have experienced
unrelieved pain and distress and that University of Kansas Medical
Center should be listing all primates used in experimentation that
experience drug withdrawal in column E. It is apparent that this has not
been the case, and that the lab has filed fraudulent reports.

Therefore, I officially request the treatment of the primates
mentioned in this Official Complaint and take the most serious action
allowable by the Animal Welfare Act against the University of Kansas
Medical Center.

Sincerely,
Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T.,
Executive Director, SAEN

Sec. 2.33 Attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care.

(b) Each research facility shall establish and maintain programs of
adequate veterinary care that include: (1) The availability of
appropriate facilities, personnel, equipment, and services to comply
with the provisions of this subchapter; (2) The use of appropriate
methods to prevent, control, diagnose, and treat diseases and injuries,
and the availability of emergency, weekend, and holiday care; (3) Daily
observation of all animals to assess their health and well-being;

Sec. 2.36 Annual report.

(7) State the common names and the numbers of animals upon which
teaching, experiments, research, surgery, or tests were conducted
involving accompanying pain or distress to the animals and for which the
use of appropriate anesthetic, analgesic, or tranquilizing drugs would
have adversely affected the procedures, results, or interpretation of
the teaching, research, experiments, surgery, or tests. An explanation
of the procedures producing pain or distress in these animals and the
reasons such drugs were not used shall be attached to the annual report;